February 2026 | Released April 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 18, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 14 states and fell in 36. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Nebraska.

New Jersey

Employment snapshot

• In February, New Jersey lost 10,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey added 3,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Jersey lost 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, New Jersey’s private sector lost 9,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey added 3,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in New Jersey rose by 467, and over the past 12 months it rose by 11,814.

• New Jersey’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.6 percent in February and is tied for 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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New Jersey

Payroll employment

• New Jersey lost 10,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New Jersey added 3,500 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Jersey lost 9,900 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New Jersey added 3,400 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From January 2026 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-5,900) and Professional and Business Services (-2,600).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+28,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,800) and Professional and Business Services (-6,700).

New Jersey

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in New Jersey remained unchanged at 63.6 percent in February.

• New Jersey is tied for 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 64.7 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.